Detroit Lions re-sign Michael Badgley to practice squad, set up showdown with Riley Patterson

The Detroit Lions are bringing back a familiar face to compete for the kicking job. The Lions re-signed kicker Michael Badgley to their practice squad Wednesday, a month after they cut him just before the start of training camp. Badgley made 20 of 24 field goals and all 33 extra point attempts in 12 games with the Lions last season after joining the team in October to help stabilize a poor kicking game.

He missed time with a groin injury this spring, and the Lions released him in July to set up a training camp showdown between Riley Patterson and Parker Romo for the kicking job. SHAWN WINDSOR: Lions fans have waited decades for a season like this. Will it be worth the wait? The Lions kept Patterson when they set their initial 53-man roster Tuesday, despite an inconsistent camp.

Patterson made 3 of 4 field goals in preseason games, but missed a 53-yarder short off the crossbar and an extra point wide right in last week's exhibition finale against the Carolina Panthers. Asked about the kicking competition early in camp, Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said he "hated" that the team cut Badgley and did so because he and Patterson were similar kickers. "I hated that we had to get rid of Badgley.

That’s just part of the deal," he said. "Anytime you're looking to try to upgrade your roster and improve, you got to make changes and you got to go through some players to find good players sometimes, but I'm really appreciative of what he did for us when he came in here and saved us at an important time last year. So I have a lot of respect for him and think very highly of him.

" SAY GOODBYE: Cardinals claim former Lions CB Starling Thomas off waivers Badgley, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018, had stints with the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans after the Lions cut him this summer. He is an 82% kicker for his career (94 of 115), but the Lions hesitated to use him from distance last season, when he made 2 of 3 attempts of 50-plus yards. Patterson was 13 of 14 kicking for the Lions in 2021, but lost a kicking battle last summer with Austin Seibert.

He spent the season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made 30 of 35 field goals, including a game-winning 36-yarder as time expired in Jacksonville's playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and was traded back to the Lions in May. MORE FROM BIRKETT: Lions' unconventional roster construction is all about keeping talent Fipp said this summer Patterson made big strides since his first stint with the Lions "and his leg strength has really increased. " "He looks really good in the training camp, so I'm really excited about him," Fipp said.

"And I think sometimes with young players, you see that where they bounce around a little bit for the first couple of years and then all of a sudden they start to grab a hold of something. So hopefully he does that for us. " .

Dave Birkett
·
Filed 08.31.2023

Latest Player Notes

How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...

Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...

How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects

By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...

Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team

Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...

College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond

The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...

Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback

San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...

Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall

Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...

Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather

CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...

Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense

Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...

Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game

With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...
See More Player Notes